Is $28,000 a good salary in Waterloo, Ontario?

Is $28,000 a good salary in Waterloo, Ontario?

$28,000 is $32,250 less than the average yearly salary of $60,250 in Waterloo. A salary of $28,000 per year means that you would be taking home about $23,717 per year after taxes, or $1,976 per month to pay for things like housing, transportation, groceries, and entertainment. The average household income in Waterloo is $122,400.

Waterloo, Ontario
Updated: November 1, 2024

Average Cost of Living per Month in Waterloo

The average cost of living in Waterloo is $3,654/month for a single person who rents.This average is based on many factors including the cost of housing, transportation, groceries, and entertainment.
Average cost of living
$3,654/month

Monthly net income of $28,000/year
$1,976/month
Average total income in 2020
$60,250

Average total household income in 2020
$122,400

Average Salary in Waterloo

The average salary in Waterloo is $60,250, which is 10.7% higher than the Canadian average salary of $54,450. A person making $28,000 a year in Waterloo makes 53.5% less than the average working person in Waterloo and will take home about $23,717.
Net Annual Pay:
$23,717
Income tax breakdown
Hourly Salary:
$14.36
Salary breakdown

Cost of Living Calculator

Below are the details used to generate the average Cost of Living for Waterloo. Change the inputs to match your lifestyle and see how it compares to the average cost of living and a salary of $28,000.
Renter
Homeowner
Housing

Housing

The average monthly cost of rental housing in Waterloo is $1,708.
Product Avg. Min. Max.
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre, Rent Per Month
$2,011
$1,800
$2,385
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre, Rent Per Month
$1,708
$1,500
$1,800
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre, Rent Per Month
$3,289
$3,000
$3,750
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre, Rent Per Month
$2,900
$2,500
$3,200
Updated: 2024-11-01 (48 contributors in the last 12 months)
Transit
Driver
Transportation

Transportation

The average monthly cost for a driver in Waterloo is $626.
Product Avg. Min. Max.
Gasoline (1 liter), Transportation
$1.54
$1.40
$1.65
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car), Transportation
$33,978
$30,000
$33,978
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car), Transportation
$27,258
$27,383
$27,383
Updated: 2024-11-01 (48 contributors in the last 12 months)
Groceries

Groceries

The average person spends $474 on groceries per month in Waterloo.
Product Avg. Min. Max.
Milk (regular), (1 liter), Markets
$2.85
$1.25
$5.00
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g), Markets
$3.01
$1.99
$7.00
Eggs (regular) (12), Markets
$4.20
$3.00
$6.00
Local Cheese (1kg), Markets
$12.00
$6.00
$20.00
Water (1.5 liter bottle), Markets
$2.55
$1.50
$4.99
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range), Markets
$16.00
$9.95
$24.00
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle), Markets
$3.15
$2.50
$6.00
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle), Markets
$3.74
$2.50
$7.00
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro), Markets
$18.50
$14.66
$22.00
Apples (1kg), Markets
$4.93
$2.20
$7.00
Chicken Fillets (1kg), Markets
$17.76
$8.82
$26.00
Oranges (1kg), Markets
$4.80
$3.00
$8.80
Potato (1kg), Markets
$4.10
$2.00
$5.99
Lettuce (1 head), Markets
$2.98
$1.00
$4.99
Rice (white), (1kg), Markets
$3.65
$2.00
$12.00
Tomato (1kg), Markets
$4.61
$2.84
$6.99
Banana (1kg), Markets
$1.59
$1.26
$2.62
Onion (1kg), Markets
$4.05
$2.99
$8.00
Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat), Markets
$23.02
$7.00
$35.00
Updated: 2024-11-01 (48 contributors in the last 12 months)
Utilities

Utilities

The average monthly cost of utilities in Waterloo is $194.
Product Avg. Min. Max.
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment, Utilities (Monthly)
$259.09
$154.55
$350.00
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL), Utilities (Monthly)
$73.12
$50.00
$100.00
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data, Utilities (Monthly)
$56.06
$30.00
$97.00
Updated: 2024-11-01 (48 contributors in the last 12 months)
Leisure & Entertainment

Leisure & Entertainment

The average person in Waterloo spends $146 on leisure & entertainment per month.
Product Avg. Min. Max.
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult, Sports And Leisure
$52.67
$30.00
$90.00
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend), Sports And Leisure
$21.00
$14.00
$28.00
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat, Sports And Leisure
$15.00
$13.00
$25.00
Updated: 2024-11-01 (48 contributors in the last 12 months)
Clothing

Clothing

The average person in Waterloo spends $35 on clothing per month.
Product Avg. Min. Max.
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar), Clothing And Shoes
$67.67
$40.00
$120.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...), Clothing And Shoes
$33.00
$19.00
$60.00
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range), Clothing And Shoes
$104.33
$50.00
$160.00
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes, Clothing And Shoes
$145.00
$40.00
$200.00
Updated: 2024-11-01 (48 contributors in the last 12 months)
Restaurants

Restaurants

The average person in Waterloo spends $321 on restaurants per month.
Product Avg. Min. Max.
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant, Restaurants
$20.00
$8.00
$35.91
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course, Restaurants
$100.00
$60.00
$190.00
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal), Restaurants
$15.00
$12.00
$16.76
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught), Restaurants
$8.00
$3.50
$10.00
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle), Restaurants
$9.00
$6.00
$12.00
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle), Restaurants
$2.65
$1.75
$3.50
Water (0.33 liter bottle) , Restaurants
$2.17
$2.00
$2.50
Cappuccino (regular), Restaurants
$5.25
$2.50
$7.00
Updated: 2024-11-01 (48 contributors in the last 12 months)
Other

Other

The average person in Waterloo spends $150 on miscellaneous goods and services per month.
Product Avg. Min. Max.
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child, Childcare
$1,031
$500
$1,600
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child, Childcare
$14,000
$14,000
$14,000
Updated: 2024-11-01 (48 contributors in the last 12 months)
General Disclaimer: This tool is designed for approximation purposes only and should not be used to replace a legal or accounting authority. To simplify the process, some variables are assumed to calculate the numbers included on this page. The results of this calculator should not be relied upon to determine career or tax decisions.

Your Results

Disclaimer: These numbers estimate what it costs to live in Waterloo based on Numbeo data. People can live in the city for much less, while others may need much more to fund their lifestyle.
Your cost of living
$3,654/month

Monthly net income of $28,000/year
$1,976/month

Jobs paying $28,000+/year